Vehicle body closure assembly



Oct. 30, 1951 E. F. MCHENRY VEHICLE BODY CLOSURE ASSEMBLY Filed Dec. 27, 1948 m T N E V N ELMER F, MCHENRY ATTORNEY This invention relates Patented Oct. 30, 1951 UNITED -STATESq-PATENT OFFICE Elmer Frazier McHenry, St. Louis, Mo. Application December 27, 1948, Serial No. 67,500

hide body closure asemblies, and more particularlyto improved means for-opening and closing an access opening in a motor truck or other ve- --hi'cle body.

Many present day commercial trucking loads "are of such nature as torequire a rigid, sturdy,

long life closure, such for exampleas is provided by a series of stakes, in a stake or panel body or other form thereof. Many types of freight are further of such nature as to render it necessary to protect the goods from excess air ex- .change, as against extreme heating and chilling 'effects. rigid and sturdy closure, as well as protection Among loads of the kinds requiring a against effects of air and heat exchange, may be noted many package perishables'and other food stufls, and beverages such as beer in cooperage, these being noted merely as examples and without limitation. It is confidently stated in explanation of the present need and'the problems presently now overcome, that there has heretofore existed no fully commercially satisfactory closure for truck bodies in service of this kind.

The problem is aggravated by the need of frequent stops incident to local deliveries in many cases, and the necessity-foravoidance between such stops, of the effects of hot or cold air, while at the same time these exists a strict necessity for protection against loss of the load through a body opening. The invention accordingly has as its principal object, the purpose of overcoming the noted inadequacies of existing vehicle bodies, particularlythose in local commercial trucking service.

' A further important objectiveof'the invention is realized in an improved flexible closure of curtain type, which is sturdy, fully protective against any appreciable air exchange when used with a panel or other solid type of body, and which in the most advanced embodiment, is positively secured in taut relation, preferably in the vertical plane of the closure.

A further and important objective is realized in an improved arrangement of stake securement 6 Claims. (01. 296143) to improvements in vesembled; and readilyattached to truck bodies'o certain existing types.

Additional important objectives include novel features of support, construction and arrangeinent making for a compact trouble-free assembly of the general type noted, and which may be produced at a low cost and is such as to require virtually no service attention throughout a long period of utility. The foregoing and numerous other objectives will more clearly appear from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment-of the invention, particularly when considered'in connection with the accompanying drawing; in which: V

Fig. 1' is a fragmentary rear elevation of "a. truck bodyof panel type, the view being isometric in nature and showing the location and general appearance of a preferred form of closure assembly; 1 Fig. 2 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional de tail as taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig.3 is a substantially enlarged fragmentary end view of a headrail and curtain roller support,

' together with tops of the stakes, and portions of the vehicle body top, parts of the latter being shown in section; V

Fig. 4 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 3, but taken in a vertical plane intersecting the head bar and curtain'roll assembly, and particularly .as viewed along line 44 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional elevation taken in a vertical plane transversely of the upper rear portion of the vehicle body, and showing details of structure of .the curtain roll, spring, bearing and support provisions, all as viewed along line 5-5 of Fig. 3, and

Fig. 6 is a horizontal, partly sectional view of the headrail structure taken in a plane below the curtain roller and appurtenances, and particularly as viewed along line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Referring now by characters of reference to the drawing, and first to Fig. 1, a preferred setting of the present improvements is as a combination closure for the rear body opening serving for loading and unloading purposes and indicated at LO, 'thisbeing shown as located centrally of essentially similar to that shown by Fig. 6, or

otherwise formed in accordancevwith preference.

The upper socket-forming structure is formed of a pair of parallel cross .bars spaced t'o-an extent slightly greater than the thicknessofthestakes which, as appears, will extend therebetween (Fig;

6). A forwardmost bar 19 is preferably in-the.

nature of an angle bargiand is of a length so as i tocex'tend endwisesomewhatbeyond the opening L0. The companion or rcarmostbarindicated "at: I I; is parallelto the bar, 10, ,these elements being bridged by a plurality :of cross members I 2 welded 'or'otherwise secured to the bars as indicated at- [3. These members-as will now appear, :arepso spaced laterally as'to provide thesta-ke sockets in the numberdesired in --a mannereffectively to block the opening against unauthorrized entrance' of persons, and at the same time to protect fully against loss of heavy load units such as'beer 'cooperage, heavy boxes, cases and dine like.

There is frequently. provided interiorly 'oi the panel bodies of the type selected for present discussion, a horizontali'metal or'wood rail R, securely assembled to the interior 'of'th'e body; these elements serving as attachment piecesfor the -metal framework of the door 'oriclosure assembly. The general location of the elements R in respect to the closure assembly will appear from Figs. 2, 3 and 6. Extended vertically'downwardly from, 'and' welded to the bar"! I at opposite sides of the opening LO, are a pair of vertical guide channels and I5 which, as will 'appear, constitute guide elements for the opposite lateral margins of the roll curtain later to be described; such'ed'ges being guidedly directed by thechannel formed by these ;elements. The channelsmay be welded to the ends i of Ithe bar H, and the 1: head assembly in turn welded to :vertical angles and 1'! '(Fig; 6), the latter being secured to the' adjacent elements 'R of thebody.

Attaching as by bolting, to'ithe'forwardmost bar 'HJ, particularlyto each of-the 'end'extensions thereof, is an L-shaped bearing arm or bracket 20. Attachment of these arms may be madein any suitable manner, as by bolts 21, the brackets serving; as will appear, to support the roller assembly of the curtain which =coacts with the stakes to complete'the closure of the Opening'LO. An advantageous feature of'the headrail' assembly which may be taken as includingthe bars 10; l I and the socket-forming: members 12 together with the curtainroller and appurtenances, consists of a captive stake rod 22.: This maybe formed of a lengthw'of simple rod-stock, with right angled'ends, as best shown by Fig. 6, and indicatedat 23, these ends being welded to-the vertical part of the angle bar ill. Each of the stakes is provided with a screw eyeor eye bolt indicated at 24, engaging one end of a length of a flexible captive element exemplified by chain 25, each chain being provided with a circular end link .26; slidably supported by :and "hence movable 4 along the rod 22. It will now have appeared that, incident to removal of any one or a plurality of the stakes, they may be brought to one side of the door opening within the body, and still kept captive and secured against loss, through their retention by means of the chains 25 and the rod 22. They are as easily replaced as removed.

Proceeding now to a description of the curtain and curtain roller assembly, the curtain, indicated'sgeneral1yJat 2T, is' wound over a tubular curtain roller 30; the latter beingdire'ctly or indirectly supported by the bearing arms 2!), hence by the bar 10 of the headrail structure. The curtain--2l preferably consists of a heavy grade of canvas, duck or the like, and treated for waterproofing-weather resistance and longer life. The

curtain-2! is characterized by a series of hori- Zontal or transverse pockets or hems 3|, which maybe formed either by application of a separate layer of fabric suitably stitched in each of these zones, or by stitchingtogether in such-zones -double layers of the curtain fabric, or otherwise as desired. Located within each of the pockets 3| is a flat narrow reenforcingrirod 32 'of'a suitable metal such as steel stock. It will now'be "apparent that these cross stays '32 serve'to prevent wrinkling of the curtain fabric'and its distortion due' to wind and other effects, and at the same time assure the retentionnby the curtain of "its full width throughout its length, :and its'guide'd engagement. with both of ithe vertical channels.

The lower or outer margin cfithe curtain isprovided with an anchorage consisting of .a latch, shown as a T-shaped strapr33 which maybe stitched to the lower margin. of the curtain and the strap of which is provided with a plurality of apertures 34 selectively applicable over a re tenti'on pin or the like carried by therear-truck sill' or truss TS; v

The mounting and appurtenances of the curtain are preferably such asto keep the curtain under tension at all times when closed and latched, whereby to preserve'its planar relation.

and realize fully on its air-sealing effects; One manner in which tensioning' ofth'e curtain is accomplished, is illustrated by Fig; 5, in which'it will appear that the roller assembly includes a shaft .35; the shaft being .journalled in an antifr'iction bearing assembly; shown as of ball type and indicated at 3B. The outer race of this assembly may be secured by any suitable means (not shown) to the vertical part'of the :bearing arm 20. Although the shaft 35'may be of equal length to, or greater than the length of the roller, it has been found sufficient to utilize a pair'of the .shorter shafts 352s stub shafts, one at each end, in which case the inner end of each stub shaft is welded as at 31 to a circular disc 38 within the roller 30. A similar'disc 40 may be welded as shown to the shaft 35, and'is in turn secured to'the roller 30. In this region the roller is pro videdwith an end plate '41 which forms, guard for the curtain at the end of the useful area of the roller, and at the 'same time serves as a closure for-a shallow cylindrical drum '42 contain"- in a' clock-type spring 43. The-outer end ot spring 43 is secured as byrivet H, to the shell of the drum 42, and the inner end of'th'e spring 43 is provided with a curled terminal embracing an anchorage pin 45, this latterbeing secured suitably to the plate 4 l, and if desired, to the element 40, hence operatively follows'the roller 30;

It is a preference that thedrum-AZ remain stationary during normaloperation of the roller from which itwill nowv appear that as the roller is rotated with the drum 42. anchored, the sprin 43 is stressed or loaded, the arrangementofccoils in .the spring being such that this loading takes place as the curtain 21 is pulled downwardly toward and into its fully closed position. i The arrangement isfurther such that theroll'er and spring are not ratcheted, whereby the curtain, when down or closed, is kept under constant tension for the purposes noted.

' A provision is desirably made for adjusting-the loading of the spring 43, hencethe winding bias exerted on the curtain. The initial spring loading is determined by the angular relation between drum 42 and shaft 35, the latter being constantly angularly related to the inner end of the spring.

For adjusting rotation, the drum 12 is provided with an exterior, coaxial, circular extensionf46, within which is an antifriction bearing assembly shown as of ball type and indicated at 41, the inner race of which is attached'to or closely engages the shaft 35. Externally of the outer face of the drum is a plurality of tapped socket extensions 50 and 5| adapted for selective engagement by screws 52 and 53 extending through apertures 54 in the bearing arm 20. Although no more than one such screw is strictly necessary, it has'been found to conduce to a better balanced relation of parts to employ at least a pair thereof as shown. It will now have become obvious that, for adjustment of the spring with the curtain fully wound on the roller for example, the one or more screws 52, '53 are backed out of the sockets, and to increase the spring bias the drum is rotated with the roller held stationary, in a direction to tighten the spring or wind same about the shaft 35. Any suitable number of the sockets 50, 5| may be'provided in order to effect the desired nicety of spring loading adjustment. As shown, the drum may be rotated in a spring-tightening or loosening direction, by half turns, until the desired bias is obtained, following which the screws 52, 53'are reinserted and threaded up.

A valuable feature of the present improvements consists in a positiveprovision for maintaining the curtain fully taut entirely over the area of the loading opening LO. To this end, the bar ll of the headrail assembly constitutes what may be termed a ramp, over which the curtain is slidably drawn. The ramp is characterized by aconvex surface engaging the curtain'as will best appear from Figs. 3 and 4, and if desired,'the ramp specifically indicated at 60 (Fig. 4) is related to the curtain roller that the curtain is tightly drawn over the element 60 at all times except when retracted onto the roller, or substantially so. It should here be noted that the convex surface is desirable in order to minimize abrading and tearing effects on the curtain, and that if desired, the ramp may take the form of a horizontal roller (not shown).

By reason of the location of the curtain roller in a plane substantially forward (in relation to the vehicle and body) of the plane of the closure provided by the curtain, the latter will, just upwardly of the ramp, assume an angular relation as shown by Fig. 4. It is for assurance of this effeet that it is preferred to mount the bearing arms 20 over the forward bar It), and to form or secure the ramp 60 on the rearmost parallel bar I l of the headrail assembly. By reason of the ramp, and the lateral guides afforded by channels l4 and I5, the curtain is positively constrained to and kept in an approximately uniform plane, being the plane of the closure, at all times. Furthermore,

it will appear that the plane of the closure area of the curtain is closely adjacent the plane of the rear faces of the stakes S, so that the latter serve as rigid vertical reenforcements behind the curtain during all periods of their conjoint usage.

. It will havexappeared that the headrail assembly, togetherwith or including the curtain roller and bearing arms therefor, and if desired, the vertical guide channels I4, 15, may be completely fabricated at the situs of production, and shipped if necessary to transport them, as package units to the situs of their application to the truck. It will further have appeared that the assembly as described, lends itself with or without minor modifications, to application to a wide variety of vehicle bodies generally, and in some specialized locations for stationary installation.

The operation and manner of usage of the several' parts described are thought to have been fully apparent from the detail of description thereof, but it may be noted for completeness that installation of the unit in existing truck bodies need involve no more than attachment of the members I6, I 'l to the elements R or their counterparts. 1

Following installation, the curtain is tested for tension and if adjustment of spring loading be required, the spring 43 is given an increased or decreased initial tension as above described, through the agencies of the one or more screws 52 and the cooperating sockets on the drum 42. In installation, care is .takento assure the vertical relation of the channels 14 and I5- and suitably to anchor same upon or in the rear portion of the floor elements F of the truck body. Their lateral spacing being-predetermined in factory assembly, the correct relation between the. curtain and the channels as well as all other parts of the assembly, is assured.

The curtain may bereadily actuated by releasing its latch consisting-of the strap member 33, by withdrawal of its apertured portions from the anchorage pin in the sill TS. It is instantly raised to a disappearing position. The stakes may then be removed in the usual manner for unloading purposes, and replaced prior to the next trip of the vehicle. Following replacement of the stakes, the curtain is usually again closed. It will of course appear as entirely possible and clearly contemplated, that where the nature and conditions of the load permit, either of the paired and normally coactingclosures, may be separately employed.

Although the invention has been described by detailed reference to a selected and advanced embodiment, it will be understood that the detail of description is intended solely in an instructive rather than in any limiting sense, numerous variants being possible within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a curtain and roller assembly to serve as a closure for a loading opening of a vehicle body, a curtain, a tubular roller for the curtain on which the curtain may be wound, a spring drum adjacent one end of the roller, bearing arms for the roller at opposite ends thereof, a spring within the drum and anchored at one of its ends to the drum, the opposite end of the spring having a connection within the roller, the spring drum being provided externally with a plurality of angularly spaced sockets, the roller bearing arm adjacent said drum having a transverse opening therethrough, and a pin element extended through said opening, and adapted to engage a selected one of said sockets for ad- 7 justably positioningsaid drum and enabling an angular variation of its position with respect to said arm, whereby to enable adjustment of initial spring tension.

2; Ina curtain and roller assembly for use'as amovableclosure for the access opening of a vehicle body or the like, aroller, a flexible curtain wound overthe roller, a spring drumat one'end of the roller, a spring within, and having its outer end anchored internally of the drum, the drum having an open side adjacent the roller, bearing arms for the roller near its opposite ends, aplurality of apertures through the bearing arm adjacent said drum, the drum provided with a plurality of threaded sockets 'opening externally of the drum, screws extending through said aper tures of the bearing arm and threadedly engaging said sockets, the drum being provided with a movable closure plate adjacent the endof the roller, said plate being movable with the roller and forming an end guardthereon, and a pin carried by saidplate and extending internally of the drum, and constituting an anchorage for the opposite end of said spring.

3. In a vehicle body having an openin'g'lying substantially in a vertical plane, a head rail structure adjacent an upper region of said opening and including a pair of horizontally spaced horizontal bars, cross pieces bridging and interconnecting the bars, one of said bars having its ends extended laterally beyond the opening, a. bearing arm carried by and extending above-said bar extensions, a spring roller carried by the'bearing arms, and a roll curtain wound on said roller.

4. The combination and arrangement of elements as recited by claim 3 but further characterized in that the first'said bar of the head rail structure is distinctly horizontally spaced from the roller to form a top ramp on which the curtain i slidably engageably movable.

5. In a closure assembly for the access opening of a closed vehicle body, a head rail structure formed of a pair of horizontally arranged and spaced horizontal bars so that load-engaging means may be arranged between'said pair of bars to engage the contents of the vehicle, a curtain roller located above and supported by one of said bars, a curtain ramp carried by the other said bar and slidably engaging said curtain, lateral guide elements extending vertically below the last said bar and serving to receive the marginssof' the'curta-in and to constrain same to a verticalplane, said load-engaging means-being located just inwardly of the vehicle, in relation to the plane of the curtain as determined by the curtain guides.

6. In a closure for opening and closing the access opening of a vehicle body, a head rail structure consisting of two parallel bars, a curtain roller above and supported by one of said bars, a ramp carried'by'the other bar and over which the curtain is slidably movable, a pair of vertical guide channels extending below the ends of said ramp and by which a curtain is laterally guided and positioned 'ina fixed plane when the curtain drawn, a-curtain carried by and wound on said roller, cross pieces bridging said bars and maintaining same in fixed parallelism, a latch at the lower end of the curtain, a spring operatively connected'tothe curtain roller and coacting with the latch when the curtain is drawn to maintain the curtain under a continuous tension, thecurtain roller being supported forwardly of the cross pieces, and the plane of the curtain when closecLas determined by said guide chan-- nels, beingrearwardly of and closely parallel to the rearmost of each parallel bars.

ELMER FRAZIER McI-IEN'RY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file 'of this patent: V

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 166,114 Knight et al. July 27, 1875 236,126 Washburn Dec. 28, 1880 262,609" Myrick Aug. 15, 1882 305,832 McCurdy Sept: 30, 1884 436,900 Morrison Sept. 23,1890 762,756 Pohlig June 14, 1904 820,314 Pohlig May 8, 1906 1,102,094 Smith June 30,1914 1,202,559 Mercer Oct. 24, 1916 1,305,426 Wellindorf June 3, 1919 1,349,500 Dietz Aug. 10,- 1920 1,454,681 Latifi May 8; 1923 1,577,164 Bisch Mar. 16,1926 1,626,997 Wragg M May 3, 1927 1,656,077 Schlicher Jan. 10, 1928 1,710,944 Olsen Apr. 30, 1929 2,115,440 Black Apr. 26, 1938 

